This 28-year-old chain-snatcher has taken the saying about “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” to heart and used his HIV+ status to get bail in multiple cases against him
This 28-year-old chain-snatcher has taken the saying about “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” to heart and used his HIV+ status to get bail in multiple cases against him.
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Wasim Khan (name changed) was recently arrested by the Kalyan police in chain-snatching cases across Kalyan, Thane and adjoining areas. Turns out, he is a Shirdi native who is also wanted by the Nashik, Pune and Mumbai police for various chain-snatching incidents wherein he managed to make a quick getaway after repeatedly taking advantage of his status as an HIV+ person to get bail on medical grounds. Khan was arrested on Friday by the Mahatma Phule police for a case that was registered a month ago under Sections 394 (Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. A team of officers, including police inspectors Vijay Bhise and B Roham from Bazarpeth police station and Mahatma Phule police station respectively along with the Bazarpeth police chain-snatching squad raided the hub of chain-snatchers in Ambivli and Khan was among those arrested.
At the time of arrest, four people came to rescue Khan and abused the police for arresting him. To that end, a case has been registered under sections 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC against Khan’s mother-in-law and three others. “We have register the case as officers were threatened and abused,” said Gulabrao Gore, senior police inspector, Khadakpada police station.
“We arrested him on Friday in a case of snatching that occurred in our jurisdiction. He was produced in court and sent to magistrate’s custody. We are now trying to get his custody in four other cases in our jurisdiction,” added Roham.
Meanwhile, the Nashik city police is also hunting for him as he is wanted in more than five cases there. “They have asked us for custody, but first, we will complete our investigation and later hand him over to the Nashik police. He is also wanted in Pune and Mumbai for similar crimes,” said an officer investigating the matter. Interestingly, after his arrest, Khan made the claim about his HIV+ status and said that he uses it to get bail. “He claimed that he was HIV+ so we have sent his blood samples for a test,” said Roham.